What type of Jupiter 8 do you have?

[Laika]

Hi all,

I know many of us here have discovered the joys of one the best deals in Soviet RF glass the Jupiter 8 - 50mm/F2

So what version do you have? And do you have any feedback on it?

Here is a white/chrome 1960 model and white/chrome 1955 (tabbed) model

 

[Laika]

Later versions … Black “export” 1974 model and a white/chrome 1979 model. Note the different build of these later lenses, when you focus the whole front of the lens body rotates and it has two sets of aperture readouts.

I have used the 60 and 74 (black) models a bit and found them to be great performers, I tend to like the feel of the later build as users but like the finish of the early models more.

Does anyone have a different build J8 (LTM) than those shown here?

 

[rover]

I have a black 1982 J8. I must admit that I have not used it much, but when I have, I have been happy with the results. It is small as can be, but I am easily confused and often turn the stepless aperture ring when I should be turning the focus ring. If I were to put my mind to it I am sure I could overcome this.

 

[taffer]

Mine is a chrome/white 1955 tabbed model, just like the one you have there Laika. I've been curious about the black model, but I think I'll leave that for when my 55 one falls apart. I also have a severely scratched J8M in Contax mount that may be an interesting soft focus lens...

 

[RML]

I have a tabbed silver '55, which needs relubricating. It's so stiff as to be almost unusable. It's looks very good, though. The chrome is very bright and clean, and the elements are clean and scratchless too.

My working J-8 is the silver '79 model. This one needs some adjustment as well; it's very loose but it works great. Actually, the chrome has rubbed off very much. So much so that there's hardly any DOF markings left. The elements are clean and unscratched.

I haven't used the model '55 J-8 but I expect it to perform similarly to my model '79. I know next to nothing about the design of the original J-8 and any subsequent changes in its design, but whatever these changes were they haven't been detrimental to the J-8's performance.

 

[Stu :)]

I'm currently looking for a J-8 or a J-3.

So I'll stay tuned...

Stu 🙂

 

[jdos2]

(psst... Want one in Contax/Kiev mount? I have about 1/2 dozen EXTRA)

 

[Stu :)]

Hmmm I would say yes, but I don't have a camera to mount them on.

Stu 🙂

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

(psst... Want one in Contax/Kiev mount? I have about 1/2 dozen EXTRA)

Hmmm, I may be interested. NO, NO, NO, I'm not. I have 2 Zeis-Opton Sonnar f1.5's. Maybe I need one more 50mm though. HMMM NO I don't. Well maybe. I hate having to make decisions.

Wayne

 

[vladhed]

I have one of the late 1950s chrome/tabbed ones. Nice - only problem is the non-indexed apature ring is easily knocked off setting, so you can't just set it and leave it, you have to check it before each shot.

 

[Laika]

Just thought I'd add a little more here on our favourite Soviet 50mm 🙂

The black J8 shown on the left here is a version I haven't seen before and I ended up with by chance. It has a nicer glossy finish compared to the other version that has more of a matt black finish. The lens on the left also has filled engravings for its markings rather than the others painted/stencilled on markings. The left lens has all its markings in white while the other uses green for the distance scale on the focus ring. The lenses were made in '81 and '74 respectively.

 

[pshinkaw]

I've got 7 of them in LTM mount, each dedicated to a Zorki-4, Zorki-6 or Fed-3a. from the numbers, it lokks like they span almost 20 years of production.

SN-5420561 (no tab,shiny aluminum)
SN-5453644 (tabbed. shiny aluminum)
SN-5767186 (tabbed, shiny aluminum)
SN-5913468 (tabbed, shiny aluminum)
SN-6238670 (tabbed, shiny aluminum)
SN-6316143 (tab cut-off, shiny aluminum)
SN-7320978 (no tab, black)

The black one has green numbers.

-Paul

 

[peter_n]

I only just recently got mine. It was made in 1959 and has a red cyrillic P on the front barrel. It is silver, with no focusing tab 🙂 and feels good on the camera. I've only used it with about 1/2 a roll so far but the results look encouraging.

The only weird thing about the lens is that the aperture ring is missing the raised ridged part at the front that every other J-8 I've seen has. The aperture ring is completely smooth - see the picture below (from the auction).

Anyone know if this has any significance - good or bad?

 

[rbiemer]

I have two J8 . One in LTM that came with my Zorki 3m and one in contax mount that came with my Kiev 4a.
Of the two, I'm getting better results with the contax version.
The LTM one is "current" to my zorki(1955) and looks great but seems to have been disassembled along the way somewhere and I haven't quite decided if it was put back together right. I noticed this as I was taking off a 40.5mm sized cokin adaptor ring. the entire lens block unscrewed from the mount block. I didn't lose any peices and it went back together smoothly but I need to get out Maizenbergs book and take the time to go through his steps and check.
The kiev lens has been nothing but great! I especially like the click stopped aperature on this one.('67 vintage like the camera) there is some kind of bubble looking mark inside the lens that I stressed over when I first saw it but so far I haven't been able to detect any adverse effect on the pictures taken with it.
just my .02$ worth
Rob

 

[hjfischer]

I have a J8 , SN 093122, black similar to Laika's lens on the left. I use it on a Bessa R2. Photos at all aperatures are sharp, including those shot at f:2, so I don't have the problem of imprecise RF coupling/focusing at the widest aperature that some have discussed here. Purchased off EBay and I think quite a bargain. Does anyone know when my lens was produced from the SN?

 

[Socke]

I've got one in Contax Mount and one in LTM. The LTM one looks like Laikas left and is from '64 the Contax Mount dates from '71.

 

[2maneekameras]

I have three J8 ltm. 1) a black export 1979. I really like the images I get with this lens. Dislikes: the rotating front element. I got a rectangular hood with this lens, and it doesn't work well. I replaced it with a cylindrical one. Painted numerals, I haven't worn them off yet. 2) aluminium mount, non tabbed. engraved numerals 1964. This lens is great too, but a little dusty inside, focus is smooth. 3) tabbed, aluminium mount 1957. This lens is in transit, I haven't used it yet. I use my black J8 ona Fed 2, the white ones are both on 1957 Zorki 4s.

 

[Richard Black]

I currently own one, a black model that is nicely coated. I have owned a silver 56XXXX model which was very nice, used mainly for black and white due to a slight yellowing. Great lens.

 

[einolu]

Have 2 in contax mount, both are 8m's but there is an interesting difference between them. One says its a 5cm lens and the other says its a 53mm lens, heh. The 5cm one has fungus and scratches on it so I dont use it. The other one seems to work great, doesnt even flare like the jupiter 12 I have.

 

[Bertram2]

Just thought I'd add a little more here on our favourite Soviet 50mm 🙂

The black J8 shown on the left here is a version I haven't seen before and I ended up with by chance. It has a nicer glossy finish compared to the other version that has more of a matt black finish. The lens on the left also has filled engravings for its markings rather than the others painted/stencilled on markings. The left lens has all its markings in white while the other uses green for the distance scale on the focus ring. The lenses were made in '81 and '74 respectively.

Mine is the right one, from 1975, and it performs perfectly, at ALL distances !
bertram